As Alberta’s industries face growing labour shortages, especially in skilled trades, one question is on every employer’s mind: where will tomorrow’s workforce come from?
For nearly three decades, CAREERS: The Next Generation has been answering that question. As Alberta’s leading youth workforce development organization, CAREERS connects high school students with paid internships and apprenticeship opportunities across the province—helping young people discover their potential while supporting employers in building their teams.
One powerful example of this partnership is Fountain Tire, a long-standing supporter of CAREERS and a company that has embraced hiring young people as a way to secure its future talent pipeline.
“Personally, I’ve been working with CAREERS for over a decade,” says Curtis Goodwin, Vice President of Stores for Fountain Tire in Alberta and Saskatchewan. “Working with CAREERS, hiring students has been extremely easy. From my perspective, they do all the heavy lifting.”
Fountain Tire’s success story is compelling – but it’s just one of more than 11,000 Alberta businesses that have worked with CAREERS over the years to invest in youth, strengthen their workforce, and build a better future for Alberta.
A Proven Model That Works for Employers
CAREERS makes hiring students simple, efficient, and high-impact. Through prescreening and mandatory safety courses, CAREERS ensures that students are job-ready and aligned with each employer’s needs – something that employers like Goodwin and his team deeply appreciate.
“They’ve only put the brightest and most respectful student candidates in front of me,” says Goodwin. “And if you just invest a little bit of time and energy, they pay you back with hard work and gratitude.”
Scott Kessler, owner of Fountain Tire’s Northland and Bowness locations in Calgary, echoes that sentiment.
“One of the big advantages of CAREERS is that youth are prescreened, so you’re looking at applicable applicants right out of the gate,” he says. “We are experiencing shortages like never before, and qualified applicants for trades, it seems, is on the decline.”
This kind of support is more important now than ever, especially for employers facing difficulties in recruitment and retention. CAREERS offers a reliable pathway to access emerging talent while shaping the next generation of skilled professionals.
More Than a Job: A Launchpad for Future Careers
At its core, the CAREERS model isn’t just about filling jobs. It’s about giving young people a meaningful start – and giving businesses the opportunity to mentor, develop, and grow talent from within.
“Often it’s their first job,” says Kessler. “You want to be patient. You want to be understanding. You want to give them the opportunity to show you where they can shine – and who knows, you could have a superstar.”
Evan Morsette, Lead Technician at Fountain Tire Calgary Macleod, knows firsthand how this support can shape a career.
“Fountain Tire really supports you all the way through your career—starting as a first-year apprenticeship, getting into school, all the way to becoming a licensed technician.”
CAREERS creates a launchpad for students, offering them both confidence and credentials. For employers, it’s a way to create a pipeline of trained, motivated workers who are already familiar with their workplace and culture.
It’s Good for Business – and It Feels Good, Too
Beyond the practical benefits, many employers find deep personal satisfaction in helping young people succeed.
“Honestly, there’s few things at this point in my life that give me more satisfaction than giving somebody an opportunity,” says Goodwin. “It just feels good to give people a shot at something, right?”
“It gives me a lot of pride when I see somebody be successful and either move on from my store or move up through my store,” adds Kessler. “To make a career out of what started as a simple high school job – that’s something special.”
And with Alberta’s skilled labour gap continuing to widen, more businesses are beginning to realize what Goodwin has known for years:
“Every Alberta business needs to be concerned about where their next workers are coming from. Partnering with a program like CAREERS just makes sense.”
One Story of 11,000—and Counting
Fountain Tire’s experience is just one among many. CAREERS has partnered with more than 11,000 employers across Alberta in industries ranging from skilled trades and forestry, to energy, health care, and emerging technologies.
Each of these employers made the choice to invest in youth – and in doing so, they’re helping to solve one of Alberta’s biggest workforce challenges.
Whether you’re a small shop or a large company, hiring a student through CAREERS is an opportunity to make a difference in a young person’s life while strengthening your business for the future.
Join the Movement
CAREERS: The Next Generation is proud to be Alberta’s leader in youth workforce development. But the work is far from done.
We’re calling on more employers, large and small, urban and rural, to get involved. The tools, support, and talent are ready. All that’s needed is your willingness to give youth a chance.
Start with one student. One opportunity. One success story. And you’ll be part of something much bigger, just like the more than 11,000 Alberta employers who already have.
Let’s build Alberta’s workforce, together.
